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Topic: brakes!!! - brakes!!!  (Read 3411 times)

Anonymous

brakes!!! - brakes!!!

« on: March 25, 2002, 01:54:59 AM »
Hey y'all,
Having a bit of a problem.  The front brakes on my 72 super keep locking up.  I've changes the master cylinder and the brake shoes twice.  Everytime I go somewhere the adjusters go all the way out and I'm stuck underneath it with a screwdriver backing them off.  If I can get home before they completely sieze then they back off on their own overnight.  What's going on. :help

Offline Zen

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brakes!!! - brakes!!!

« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2002, 08:23:20 AM »
That's a very unusual problem!  I've never ran across adjusters that wanted to move without being forced.  There should be a little flat spring underneath the adjuster that clicks into the bottom notch to keep it from turning and yours must be broken off.  I think they are spot welded to the bottom of the adjuster block, so the only real "fix" is to replace the backing plate.  You might try taking the adjuster out and cleaning ALL the lubrication from it . . . give it a few days and I'll bet it will quit moving on it's own . . . but then it will turn into a pain in the rear end to adjust.

Offline Zen

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brakes!!! - brakes!!!

« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2002, 08:22:03 PM »
OK, I re-read your post.  I don't think you have any problem with your adjusters!  I think you need to change your flexible brake hoses!

What happens is this -- The hoses might look good on the outside, but they usually go bad from the inside out.  They start out by getting soft inside.  As the rubber gets soft it swells shut.  When you mash on the pedal you generate a tremendous force on the brake fluid, and it pushes the hose open and lets fluid into the wheel cylinder to apply your brakes.  Then, when you let off the brakes, the springs that pull your shoes back to the rest position can't generate enough pressure to force the hose open the other way . . . so the hose acts like a one way check valve.  I didn't see to begin with that you said they shoes would back themselves off over night.  When your brakes lock the next time, open the bleeder screw on one of your wheel cylinders . . . I'll bet you that fluid will squirt out and your shoes will back WAY off.

Change all four of the flexible hoses and flush all of the old fluid out of the system.  After you bleed all the air out of the system, readjust your shoes.



Edited By Zen on Mar. 26 2002 at 07:31

Anonymous

brakes!!! - brakes!!!

« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2002, 03:31:25 AM »
Thanks Zen,
   You where closer too it the first time.  The prong that catches the adjusters where all bent down.  I changed all my hoses and line less than a year ago when they locked up last time.  You know, disk brakes are sounding mighty nice right about now!

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